NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is likely to sign PPAs to develop 350 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in India.

NVVN is likely to sign PPAs with at least 22 companies by end-January 2012. The companies include GAIL, Welspun Solar, Mahindra Solar One, Enfield Infrastructure, Essel Infraprojects, Azure Power India and French firm Fonroche Energie S.A.S. The other companies shortlisted include Solairedirect SA, SunBorne Energy Services, Sujana Towers, and Green Infra Solar Farms. Of the 28 projects for which LoIs have been issued to these companies, 24 are in Rajasthan, two in Maharashtra, and one each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

NVVN is the nodal agency for sale and purchase of grid-connected solar power under the Phase I of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). The mission envisages the implementation of the solar programme (thermal and photovoltaic), including utility grid solar power in three phases — Phase I up to 2013 (1,100 MW), Phase II up to 2017 (4,000 MW), and Phase III up to 2022 (20,000 MW).